Faithfully Unimpressive

ALL – Psalm 45:1-17
ALL – Proverbs 22:14
OT – Job 40:1-42:17
NT – 2 Corinthians 5:12-21

Interesting passage for the day: He died for all so that all who live—having received eternal life from him—might live no longer for themselves, to please themselves, but to spend their lives pleasing Christ who died and rose again for them. So stop evaluating Christians by what the world thinks about them or by what they seem to be like on the outside. – 2 Corinthians 5:15-16, The Living Bible

Thought: Christians aren’t designed to be impressive. They’re designed to be faithful. They’re designed to live real life—even when it looks boring. They’re designed to thank God—even for simple, “unexciting” blessings like bread and water. They’re designed to persevere—even when the rest of the world would decide “it’s not worth it.” They’re designed to please God, even when they seem to get no benefit.

Don’t misunderstand me. Some Christians are impressive and will do impressive things. Some are talented musicians, playwrights, actors, technicians. Some are gifted intellectuals, architects, athletes, speakers. For them, being faithful means using their impressive array of gifts to the glory of God. But they’re still designed first and foremost to be faithful, to please Christ rather than themselves.

And so the Christian life is not designed to be impressive. Which is a good thing, or most of us would be considered failures, not only by the world, but by Jesus Christ. As believers, we’re designed simply to be faithful to give ourselves wholly—heart, soul, mind, and strength—to loving and pleasing Jesus. And He’s given us life precisely so that we can all do exactly that.

Question: What does faithfully living to love and please Jesus Christ with your entire being look like for you right now? Where could you see yourself growing as you walk with Jesus through the years ahead?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Missionary Kindness

ALL – Psalm 9:13-20
ALL – Proverbs 19:4-5
OT – 1 Chronicles 12:19-14:17
NT – Romans 1:1-17

Interesting passage for the day: And now, through Christ, all the kindness of God has been poured out upon us undeserving sinners; and now he is sending us out around the world to tell all people everywhere the great things God has done for them, so that they, too, will believe and obey him. – Romans 1:5, The Living Bible

Thought: When you think about God, what is the first characteristic that pops into your head? His power? His eternity? His knowledge of everything? His enormity? His holiness? When I think about God, I often think about how impressive He is. But as important as it is to remember how impressive God is and how much greater He is than we are, God also wants us to approach Him. And sometimes thinking about all these qualities that are so impressive to us humans ends up creating fear in us rather than a desire to approach God.

But God is not only impressive because of His power and holiness. God’s kindness is impressive, too. God’s kindness is so impressive that it invites us to draw close to Him. He is so kind that, even though we have disobeyed Him, He sent Jesus Christ to suffer for our sins instead of us. And God is so kind that he sends His disciples to their neighbors and families, and even around the world, to make sure that no one has to miss out on what Jesus Christ did for us. God is so kind that He not only opened the door for us to approach Him, but He is sending invitations out to us every day so that we know His door is open.

Question: Have you realized how kind God is to you? Have you experienced His kindness? Have you helped to extend God’s kindness by letting other people know about it? If not, will you?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.